CULTURES. Are there different values in different societies? Is concern about corruption a temporary fashion? A UNDP PARAGON Training Module

Transcription

1 CULTURES Are there different values in different societies? Is concern about corruption a temporary fashion?

2 DIFFERENT TRADITIONS Φ Cultures are associated with religion. Φ Religious teachers and their teachings about fraud and corruption indicate longstanding attitudes in societies. Φ All condemn theft. Fraud combines theft and deceit and is unacceptable to all. Φ Attitudes to corruption merit deeper study 2

3 HEBREW SCRIPTURES The Law of Moses, -1,400 CE You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. About Samuel s sons, CE His sons turned aside after gain: they took bribes and perverted justice. 3

4 HINDU WRITINGS The Laws of Manu, about -1,400 CE Men who are appointed by the king to protect his subjects, generally take the property of others. The king should banish and confiscate the property of those evil-minded men who take money from parties to lawsuits. 4

5 CONFUCIAN Confucius, about -500 CE, understood virtue as family loyalty, and warned that an emphasis on virtue might make officials too benevolent to their families, and hence corrupt. 5

6 CONFUCIAN Hsiao Ching, -145 CE, gave an imperial edict that anyone arresting or informing on a person guilty of bribery should be given the bribe received by the accused. He observed that some officials make a business of presents and bribes. Wang an Shih, 1050 CE, attributed corruption to bad men and bad laws, complaining of a multitude of minute and harassing prohibitions. 6

7 TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA (c -585 CE) If an important minister neglects his duties, works for his own profit or accepts bribes, it will cause a rapid decay of public morals. People will cheat one another take advantage of the poor, and there will be no justice for anyone. 7

8 TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA Only flatterers will find government positions, and they will enrich themselves with no thought for the sufferings of the people. Unjust officials are the thieves of people s happiness they defraud both ruler and people and cause the nation s troubles. 8

9 ANCIENT GREECE Plato s Laws, about -300 CE The servants of the nations are to render their service without taking any presents The disobedient shall, if convicted, die without ceremony. 9

10 CHRISTIAN (about CE 30) John, the prophet who told of Jesus coming, told tax collectors Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you and soldiers Do not extort money from anyone be satisfied with your wages. 10

11 CHRISTIAN Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, said to Jesus after Jesus had visited his house If I have defrauded anyone I will pay back four times as much and Jesus replied Today salvation has come to this house For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. 11

12 ISLAMIC The Quran, compiled about 600 CE And eat up not one another s property unjustly nor give bribery to the rulers (judges) before presenting your cases, that you may knowingly eat up part of the property of others sinfully. 12

13 ISLAMIC The sayings of the Prophet Allah curses the giver of bribes and the receiver of bribes, and the person who paves the way for both parties. The Fatwa Alamagiri a present to influence a judge is unlawful, but if a present be made to a judge from a sense of fear, it is lawful to give it, but unlawful to accept it. 13

14 WESTERN Queen Elizabeth the First, 1588 when appointing Sir William Cecil to be a senior official This judgement I have of you, that you will not be corrupted by any manner of gift, and that without regard to my private will, you will give me that counsel that you think best. 14

15 BRIBERY AND TRADITION Different religions have similar approaches Φ bribery is condemned as wrong, giving - a rule-based ethic for believers Φ this is not self-evident, as for murder or theft, but argued from its effects, making this - a pragmatic ethic all may share Φ bribes hurt people, so that this is - a care-based ethic of relationships, on which many can join a consensus. 15

16 GIFTS IN VILLAGE SOCIETY Φ Many argue that present-day bribes are based on local traditions of gifts to chiefs or leaders HOWEVER, in most village traditions Φ the transaction was transparent, not secret Φ the scale was modest, not life-changing Φ the benefits were shared, for example with a council of elders Φ the public s rights were not violated Φ the payment served as a fee 16

17 HOSPITALITY as officials working for the Government what hospitality would we accept from public, contractors, etc? Φ Cup of tea or coffee Φ Lunch Φ Dinner for my family Φ Week end hospitality Φ Overseas holiday Φ Study overseas for daughter or son? 17

18 GIFTS as officials working for the Government what gifts would we accept from public, contractors, etc? Φ New Year Calendar Φ book Φ tie, or scarf, or shirt Φ watch Φ TV set and video Φ car Φ house? 18

19 GIFTS IN THE NATION STATE When defended by arguments from tradition any gifts should be Φ transparent, not secret Φ modest Φ shared Φ seen as more like a tax than a bribe Foreign business representatives do not respect tradition sufficiently. Their gifts should be known to all! 19

20 FAMILIES AND CULTURES Φ Apparent conflict between family loyalty and integrity at work needs resolution Φ This is an issue in all countries/cultures Φ We live in many cultures at once EXAMPLE: Punctuality in Britain culture of business, civil service, etc, requires punctuality but for social occasions one should arrive a little late, never early! 20

21 CULTURES AND CORRUPTION Different cultures are assessed by characteristics such as power, distance, family links But work cultures differ from local custom, and from each other, for soccer players, the army, the police, lawyers, teachers We inhabit several cultures in family, school, religion, leisure, sport, work Let s build a Public Service Culture. 21

22 NEPOTISM Nepotism works well in the private sector Φ owner may rightly employ anybody Φ employee motivated by family pressure Φ and expected share of benefits/profits family pressure and profit share Nepotism is a disaster in the public sector Φ personnel officer acts unfairly in appointing a friend Φ best person may not get the job Φ demotivating, promotion corrupt also! 22

23 HUMAN RIGHTS Φ There is tension between wanting maximum individual liberty, and maximum group safety. Φ This is so everywhere and is not simply an East-West or North-South divide. Φ Anti-corruption precautions and investigations are affected. Φ We will ask later what tools we have the right to use to fight corruption 23

24 THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY? Φ Public pressure for transparency from leaders: price of public office is public scrutiny This covers finance, health, membership of secret societies, the behaviour of relatives Φ Frequent protest about our right to privacy Φ But how strong is that RIGHT? Little privacy in village, or for the poor Poor are subject to means tests, to reveal their needs Is privacy a right, or privilege of the rich? 24